Contraction of research and development expenditure slowed
down

According to Statistics Finland, research and
development expenditure amounted to EUR 5.9 billion in 2016.
Expenditure went down by EUR 145 million from the year before. The
decrease comes entirely from the business enterprises sector, where
research and development expenditure contracted by close on four
per cent, which is, however, a one-half slower fall rate for
expenditure than in 2015. In research institutes and elsewhere in
the government sector and in the higher education sector, R&D
expenditure remained on level with the previous year.

The GDP share of research and development expenditure was 2.8
per cent in 2016. The GDP share has decreased continuously since
2009 when the share of R&D expenditure was 3.8 per cent. Driven
by business enterprises, research and development expenditure is
estimated to make an upturn of around EUR 100 million in 2017 and
the GDP share is estimated to be 2.7 per cent.